The Iliad

A work of tremendous influence that has inspired writers from his ancient Greek contemporaries to modernist writers such as TS Eliot Homer's epic poem The Iliad is translated by Robert Fagles with an introduction and notes by Bernard Knox in Penguin ClassicsOne of the foremost achievements in Western literature Homer's Iliad tells the story of the darkest episode in the Trojan War At its centre is Achilles the greatest warrior-champion of the Greeks and his refusal to fight after being humiliated by his leader Agamemnon But when the Trojan Hector kills Achilles' close friend Patroclus Achilles storms back into battle to take revenge - although knowing this will ensure his own early death Interwoven with this tragic sequence of events are powerfully moving descriptions of the ebb and flow of battle of the domestic world inside Troy's besieged city of Ilium and of the conflicts between the Gods on Olympus as they argue over the fate of mortalsSeven Greek cities claim the honour of being the birthplace of Homer (c 8th-7th century BC) the poet to whom the composition of the Iliad and Odyssey are attributed The Iliad is the oldest surviving work of Western literature but the identity - or even the existence - of Homer himself is a complete mystery with no reliable biographical information having survivedIf you enjoyed The Iliad you might like The Odyssey also available in Penguin Classics'An astonishing performance'Peter Levi'Plain and direct noble above all rapid leading the reader forward with an irresistible flow Fagles' version is imbued with humanity'Oliver Taplin The New York Times Book Review'Robert Fagles has given us an Iliad to read aloud eloquent rhythmical and full of power'Jasper Griffin Oxford University
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